Ahoy there! Are you landlubbers looking to explore the mysteries and secrets of the ocean? Or are you salty sea-dogs hoping to plunder some buried treasure?

Well… unfortunately On the Beach can’t really help you there. But for those heading on fantastic cheap holidays to Tenerife, Mallorca, Gran Canaria, or Rhodes, we can give you some brilliant boat hiring tips straight from the captain’s log.

So to discover a beautiful island paradise full of sandy beaches, reefs, capes, and bays, stick with On the Beach. And for those pirates looking for a chest full of booty… just remember that X marks the spot!

To help you pack, try to imagine some of the activities that you will be doing during your seafaring adventure. These may include scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking, swimming, and wakeboarding, as well as socialising and dining at gorgeous seafood restaurants in the evenings. So try to pack for both occasions.

Some obvious items worth taking on your voyage are light summer clothing, swim suits, comfortable footwear, sweatshirts, and a windbreaker. You may even want to bring some “smart casual” or even formal clothing, such as collared shirts and a nice jacket. Finally, don’t forget to bring personal items including passport, visas, medication, and sports equipment.

Captain’s Advice

Make sure that you don’t get marooned on a deserted island by sticking to our seven simple tips:

Ensure that the vessel is both seaworthy and a genuine charter boat. That means that it should be MCA registered, and come with all of the safety equipment and checks that go with it. You don’t want to end up in Davy Jones’ Locker!

Accessing extra funds while on a chartered boat is going to be difficult, as you will probably be stopping in places with no cash machines. So remember to bring some extra cash, as not every sailor comes back with a treasure chest full of valuable loot!

Have an alternative plan. Any sailor worth their salt knows that a trip can be cancelled at any point due to foul weather, so ensure that you have a plan B just in case.

Don’t forget to bring a pillow! If you don’t get enough sleep, you probably won’t be shipshape for the following day’s activities.

Those who have yet to earn their sea-legs may have to contend with a bout of seasickness. Boats generally carry pills for nausea, but fresh ginger tea also works like a dream.

Electronic items, such as cameras, mp3 players, tablet computers, and smart phones don’t tend to mix well with salt water. So take sensible precautions by bringing zip-lock bags to place your valuable gadgets in.

Avoid a mutiny by preparing your finest anecdotes and edible treats! This will help keep your crew onside, while ensuring that you won’t be walking the plank.

So for all of those budding sailors, remember that chartering a boat should provide you with a fun, relaxing, and breathtaking holiday. It is the perfect outdoor activity for holidaymakers seeking a nice and peaceful getaway, and it will reward you with a wonderful sense of freedom.

So if you feel inspired to plan a sailing trip, check out our great range of holidays to Spain, the Canaries, Greece, and Turkey and go from there!

Have you been sailing before? Do you have any interesting or remarkable stories? Let us know in the comment section below.